I can't believe how fast this summer is flying by. It's been busy and fun and I'm not ready for it to end. To start the summer, Derek graduated from Shadow Ridge HS June 9th. He graduated with Honors and we were proud of him for that. His graduation was nice. We came home afterwards and had carne asada for lunch with the family.
(Grandma, Koni, Sandy, Derek & Jen)
(Ashley, Derek & Dallin)
After the graduation luncheon, we went to the temple with Ashley for her to receive her endowments. It was such a nice day. Derek brought the kids up to the temple afterwards and then we all went to Olive Garden for dinner. It was such a great day.
The end of June Derek went on a two week Church History trip for his graduation present. He submitted his mission papers right before he left. His call was supposed to get here Thursday, July 1st. I went and helped with a RS service project and then shopping. While I was gone, Ashley found a mail key in my dresser drawer that I didn't even know was there and she and the kids went and got his call out of the mailbox and hid it, so everyday when I checked the mail the call wasn't there. She had the kids practice lying to me about the call if I asked. On Saturday night we went to the airport to pick Derek up and she ran into the airport to see Sister Rasband and while she was there, she handed Derek his call and he put it in his backpack. When they came out to the curb, he pulled out a shirt he got me and his call. My kids are brats! I was happy that it was here though, and we went home and opened it. He's going to the Burmingham Alabama Mission and reports Oct. 6th.
(Derek w/ his call)
(Lots of friends over)
(Derek & I)
July 4th, LeAnn, Tyson, Ashley and I flew to Peoria, Illinois. We drove to Springfield and saw Abraham Lincoln's home, tomb and the State Capitol where he gave a famous speech & his law office. Then we drove to Nauvoo. We had a great trip. We went to the Nauvoo Temple, Carthage Jail, pioneer cemetery, the trail of hope, all the houses & buildings, and the Nauvoo Pageant. Me met the guy who made the windows on the Nauvoo temple, an artist that's doing a restoration painted and one of Joseph Smith's descendants. We ate really well and had some good laughs. We even found where our ancestor Francis Lee lived in Nauvoo. It was a short trip, but lots of fun.
(Steak & shake - really good!)
(Abraham Lincoln's Tomb)
(Nauvoo Temple - love this one!)
(Me & Ashley at the Nauvoo Temple)
(carthage Jail)
That about sums up the summer so far. July has been really hot, the only good thing about the summer ending is that the heat will end too. Other fun things we've done this summer is have Greg and Dallin both go to scout camps and they went to LA for a Dodgers game. We've had the Redfearns visit and we went to the Shark Reef, Bellagio and the Famous Las Vegas sign.
(I've wanted to do this since I moved here 23 yrs ago!)
